Women empowerment not only means a gender-specific emancipation but has a long-term socio-economic impact, and this makes a thorough study about the role of women in any society imperative.
A new book, Women in Socio-economic and Cultural Aspects of Nagaland, edited by Eneingulo-u Lasuh, closely studies the role of women in different tribes in Nagaland, focusing on the innate weaknesses in society and suggesting solutions to the various problems.
The eight essays on gender disparities, education, marriage and other aspects show how patriarchy has stifled women’s voices, alienated them from family inheritance, restricted the representation of women in decision-making and state politics, and belittled their role in family and society.
There are 16 recognised tribes in the state that has a population of 19.8 lakh (2011 census) with sex-ratio of 944 females per 1,000 males. “Nagas belong to different ethnic groups; therefore their practices are slightly different from each other in their socio-cultural aspects. Hence, in this book, besides the overview of the gender issues and women empowerment, the women’s role in socio-economic and cultural aspects have been discussed particularly on Angami, Chakhesang, Zeliang and Sumi tribes,” writes Lasuh, who is the vice-principal of Eastern Christian College in Dimapur, in her introductory note.
The first chapter in the book, Gender Disparities in Socio-economic Aspects of Nagaland, Dr Yelhi Vero of Dimapur Government College points out that there is no apparent discrimination against women in a Naga society but a closer look shows wide disparities. The researcher quotes a Human development Report of Nagaland, 2016, which clearly points out the “inequalities of power” and apathy towards acknowledging women’s role in the development process.
The discrimination against women is in all spheres, be it domestic or otherwise. Even in making decisions in family, a woman’s voice remains unheard.
In education, especially in rural areas, men have an advantage over women and school dropouts often consist of a large number of girls. Nagaland has a literacy rate of 80.11 per cent with male literacy at 83.29 per cent and female literacy rate at 76.69 per cent.
This gap is despite the fact that women in Nagaland put in equal efforts in economic development of the state. “… there is no area where women are not involved whether in agriculture or in allied activities. This implies that women are equally responsible in the economic development process. Therefore, it is justifiable that they should be given equal opportunities in all spheres and education so that rural women get into the mainstream of progress and development,” points out author Peteneinuo Angami in the chapter Education and Women Empowerment in Nagaland.
In marriage and divorces too, the prevalence of patriarchy is stark. For instance, a divorced woman cannot claim custody of children under the Angami traditional laws and this practice is followed even among the educated.
Traditionally, women are denied property even as the country has a law that allows women to inherit parents’ property.
The collection of well-researched articles — by women authors like Vizolenuo Sophie, Kevinino Mechieo and Inzule Zeliang — holds the mirror on the Naga society and points out that though several parameters, both gender and society-specific, have improved over time, a lot has to be done to ensure wider prospects for women on a balanced platform.
~ NM
Book: Women in Socio-economic and Cultural Aspects of Nagaland; Edited by: Eneingulo-u Lasuh;
Publisher: Woods Publishers; Pages: 152; Price: Rs 300